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In the most recent report released by the Commission on Information and Communications and Technology (CICT) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Bacolod City ranked first in the area of “business environment and risk management” or BERM.

CICT Commissioner Monchito Ebrahim pointed out to Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia the city’s latest accolade which was contained in the annual report “Top Ten Next Wave Cities 2009: The Philippines Best BPO Locations.” Likewise, the city ranked fifth in the “Top Ten Next Wave Cities” for information technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) among the 47 towns and cities that were selected as IT BPO locations in the country.

Leonardia was very much elated for the recognition as it validates that Bacolod City is indeed among the rising luminaries in the information technology business. “This has further fortified the reputation given to us by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the Most Business-Friendly City. We won the Best Business-Friendly City in the Visayas for two years and one year as the Most Business-Friendly City in the Philippines,” he said.

Leonardia recognizes the contribution of the call center industry, an industry that was non-existent when took office as city mayor in 2004, in their local economy. He said that the city government will continue to promote and implement more programs that will further enhance the employment prospect of more Bacoleños in the IT business. The BPO industry now provides employment to almost 6,000 Bacoleños.

Factors that were considered in the selection process included the presence of an ICT council, the place’s vulnerability to natural and man-made disturbance, crime rate and efficiency, and PEZA-approved site.

Bacolod topped the selection with a score of 96% in the area of business environment and risk management. Iloilo and Metro Laguna followed at second and third with 92% and 81.6% respectively.